“[…] In all the instances that we have dealt with as an organisation, they go back home to the situation. It is a cycle. It goes round and round…” In the following guest column, Groots T&T founder Delores Robinson speaks to journalist Robert Clarke: Delores Robinson took a late-night call. …
Read More »Calypso as film—Pt 3: Grandmaster Kitch, gothic chill and Hitchcock’s thrill
It is not only Dr Bird who goes head-to-head with the director of The Birds. Sir Alfred was a master of reminding audiences of what may lie beneath surface reality and of bringing them chillingly close to it. Grandmaster Aldwyn ‘Lord Kitchener’ Roberts’ does so in ‘Love in de Cemetery’ …
Read More »“Since the lockdown, I couldn’t pay rent for my booth…” Day in the life of a nails technician
“[…] Since the lockdown, I have had two clients last week, and the week before I had one client. I have not received any calls for appointments this week. Before Covid, I would get four clients a day, give or take…” Just when Trinbagonians thought that we were ‘marked safe’ …
Read More »NWU: WASA workforce to be reduced by 50% in 2021, thousands will lose jobs
“[…] There is a projected decrease on personnel expenditure from the 2020 figure to the 2021 figure of $377,504,500. Personnel expenditure, therefore, is being slashed in half. “WASA employs approximately 5,100 permanent, temporary and so-called contract workers. If personnel expenditure is to be reduced by 50%, it is only logical …
Read More »Dear Editor: Indiscipline begins at the top, PM shouldn’t ‘pick on’ public servants
“[…] The late Gordon Draper, MP for Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West was given leave of absence for almost an entire Parliamentary term to pursue private business. MP Maxie Cuffie fell ill early in his Parliamentary term, was hospitalised for much of it, and suffered no loss of income. …
Read More »Calypso as film—Pt 2; Sparrow’s Lion/Donkey and Baron’s Shorty make theatre in the street
There is within me an old-stager constantly reminding me of how fundamentally cinematic calypso (the good traditional stuff) is. All the tools directors, storyboard artists, camera operators and screenwriters have at their disposal are unfurled by calypsonians in 32 lines plus chorus (see? the unapologetic old-stager), adhering to the block-development …
Read More »Daly Bread: What goes beyond the money? Where the Budget falls short
The Ortoire River meets the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to Point Radix on the south-east coast of Trinidad. Point Radix is a headland that separates the two renowned, but badly abused beaches of Manzanilla and Mayaro, which are of similar length, each said to be approximately 12 miles long. As you …
Read More »NJAC rededication: Pegasus’ flight—how forerunner to NJAC inspired national stadium and awards
“[…] ‘Pegasus’ was formed by Brother Makandal Daaga after a life-changing event at an Independence night party, on 31 August 1962. He was shocked when persons protested noisily, when the DJ put on the very first calypso for the night, shouting that it was not Carnival and for him to …
Read More »NWU: Lock up employers who don’t pay NIS! DPP urged to investigate ‘criminality by employers’
“[…] Within recent times, several of the retrenched workers from The Myerson Company Limited have approached our Union for advice and representation. “In the process, they raised with us some concerns over their contributions to NIS—only to discover that no contributions were remitted to NIB for parts of 2018, none …
Read More »Dear Editor: T&T’s bureaucratic education system doesn’t reward success or punish failure
“[…] Public Education is the only industry we have in which if you do a good job, nothing good happens; and if you do a bad job nothing bad happens to you. If we do not change this fact, we will not get better schools…” The following letter to the …
Read More »My friend, Sprang—Eric St Bernard remembers an enduring friendship
‘Sprangalang’ was mih partner. We worked together on many productions. Sprang did not tell jokes; he told stories. He was a true standup comedian who would have held his own on any stage with the likes of Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock. I recruited Sprang into radio broadcasting …
Read More »Calypso as film: How does Dr Bird stack up against the director of The Birds?
De lizard run up she foot, An’ it disappear. Everybody still searchin’ everywhere. Wey de lizard, Teacher Mildred? …. …. …. …. De way she jolly an’ happy Ah sure de lizard must be ticklin’ she. There are many directors, screenwriters, DOPs, storyboard artists and cutting room assistants who would …
Read More »